A busbar assembly

Abstract

There is disclosed a busbar assembly including a busbar having one or more conductor layers for electrical conduction, and an electrically conductive heat transfer line configured to convey a cooling fluid therethrough, where the heat transfer line is thermally and electrically coupled to a conductor layer of the busbar so that in use there is no voltage difference between the heat transfer line and the respective conductor layer of the busbar.

1 . A busbar assembly comprising:
 a busbar comprising one or more conductor layers for electrical conduction;   an electrically conductive heat transfer line configured to convey a cooling fluid therethrough, wherein the heat transfer line is thermally and electrically coupled to a conductor layer of the busbar so that in use there is no voltage difference between the heat transfer line and the respective conductor layer of the busbar.   
     
     
         2 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer line is mechanically coupled to the conductor layer. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the heat transfer line is directly mechanically coupled to the conductor layer by braising or welding such that the heat transfer line is continuous with the conductor layer. 
     
     
         5 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer line is mechanically coupled to the conductor layer by a mechanical fastener, and wherein the fastener forms at least part of an electrically conductive pathway between the conductor layer of the busbar and the heat transfer line. 
     
     
         6 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the mechanical fastener is selected from one of the group consisting of a rivet, stud, screw or bolt. 
     
     
         7 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer line is held against the busbar by an electrically conductive retaining element mechanically and electrically coupled to the conductor layer of the busbar. 
     
     
         8 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the mechanical fastener extends between the conductor layer and the retaining element. 
     
     
         9 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the retaining element is in the form of a curved plate. 
     
     
         10 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the heat transfer line is in the form of a pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The busbar assembly according  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer line is composed of an electrically conductive material having an electrical conductivity of at least 10 5  S/m. 
     
     
         12 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer line is composed of a thermally conductive material having a thermal conductivity of at least 12 W/(m.K). 
     
     
         13 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer line is composed of aluminium or stainless steel. 
     
     
         14 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a film layer of insulating material disposed between at least a portion of the heat transfer line and the respective conductor layer, and   an electrical pathway extending through or around the film layer between the heat transfer line and the respective conductor layer.   
     
     
         15 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer line is coupled to an electrically insulating conduit for attachment to a fluid cooling network, such that in use the conduit electrically insulates the heat transfer line from the fluid cooling network. 
     
     
         16 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid cooling network, and wherein the heat transfer line is coupled to the fluid cooling network to receive a cooling fluid from the cooling network. 
     
     
         17 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the fluid network contains an electrically insulating cooling fluid. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the busbar comprises a plurality of conductor layers; and   wherein there are a plurality of heat transfer lines each heat transfer line being thermally and electrically coupled to one conductor layer only, and wherein at least two conductor layers are thermally and electrically coupled to respective heat transfer lines.   
     
     
         21 . The busbar assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the busbar comprises a plurality of conductor layers; and   wherein the plurality of conductor layers comprises at least a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer which are electrically insulated from one another, and wherein the or each heat transfer line electrically coupled with the first conductor layer is electrically insulated from the or each heat transfer line electrically coupled with the second conductor layer.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A sub-module for a power converter comprising:
 a busbar assembly according to  claim 1 ;   a switching element electrically coupled to the busbar of the busbar assembly.   
     
     
         24 . A method of power conversion using a sub-module for a power converter in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein an electrically insulating cooling fluid is provided to the or each heat transfer line.